iULLETIN No. 



Woman's Committee 

- - OF THE - - 

Council of National Defense 



What is the Council of National Defense? 

A body authorized by Act of Congress in August, 1916, 
consisting of the Secretary of War, the Secretary of 
the Navy, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary 
of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, and the 
Secretary of Labor. This Council was directed to 
nominate to the President, and the President to ap- 
point an Advisory Commission of not more than 
seven persons, believed to be especially qualified to 
assist in its work. 

What is the purpose of the Council of National Defense? 

The co-ordination of industries and resources for the 
National security and welfare and the creation of a 
new and direct channel of intercourse and co-opera- 
tion between men and women and all departments of 
the Government. The Council has power to or- 
ganize sub-ordinate bodies and committees. The 
Woman's Committee of the Council of National De- 
fense is such a creation. 

What is the purpose of the Woman's Committee of the 
Council of National Defense? 

So to co-ordinate the activities and the resources of the 
organized and unorganized women of the country 
that their power may be immediately utilized in time 
of need, and to supply a new and direct channel 
of communication and co-operation between women 
and governmental departments. 



4- By what method is the Woman's Committee co-ordinat- 
ing the woman's power? 

By the organization of State Divisions which in turn or- 
ganize local units of all women's associations and 
societies without regard to creed, purpose, or color. 
Women not belonging to any organized societies are 
open to its membership. 
5. What are the Departments of the work of the Woman's 
Committee? 

1. Registration for Service 

2. Food Production. 

3. Food Conservation. 

4. Women in Industry. 

5. Child Welfare. 

6. Maintaining Existing Social Service Agencies. 

7. Safeguarding Moral and Spiritual forces. 

8. Educational propaganda. 

9. Liberty Loans. 

10. Red Cross and Allied Relief. 

6. What are the resources open to the Woman's Committee 

for carrying out its program? 

All Government Departments are open to the Woman's 
Committee. Their experts are advisors of the Com- 
mittee and through the Committee go out to women 
direct, the prompt and authoritative requests and in- 
formation which the Government wishes to pass on 
to them. 

7. Who compose the Woman's Committee of the Council of 

National Defense? 

Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, Chairman. 

Mrs. Philip H. Moore, St. Louis, 

President of the National Council of Women. 

Mrs. Josiah E- Cowles, California, 

President of the General Federation of Women s 
Clubs. 

R. Of; 5- 

OCT 'ii 1919 



Miss Maude Wetmore, Rhode Island, 

Chairman of the National League for Woman's 
Service. 

Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, New York, 

President of the National American Woman 
Suffrage Organization. 

Mrs. Antoinette Funk, Illinois, 

Chicago Lawyer, Member of Woman's Demo- 
cratic League for Wilson. 

Mrs. Stanley McCormick, Boston, Mass., 

Second Vice-President, National American 
Woman's Suffrage Association. 

Mrs. Joseph R. Lamar, Atlanta, Ga., 

President of the National Society of Colonial 
Dames. 

Miss Ida M. Tarbcll, New York, 
Publicist and Writer. 

Miss Agnes Nestor, Chicago, 111., 

Vice-President International Glove Workers' 
Union. 

8. How is the Woman's Committee of the Council of Na- 

tional Defense supported? 

Its memliers serve without compensation. The Council 
provides headquarters, an Executive Secretary, cleri- 
cal help and franking privilege. 

9. Where are the headquarters of the Woman's Committee 

of National Defense? 

'Die headquarters provided by the Government are at 
1814 N. St.. N. W., Washington, D. C. 



WOEAH'S COI'.u.lITTEE 
COUNCIL OP NATlON-'vL DEFENSE 
******** 

ADVANTAGES OF TIT. PLAN 



1. No organization will lose its identity. 

2. Existing machinery will be uc?.lired and centralized. 

3. Duplication will be largely prevented and individual 

effort raade more far-reaching. 

4. "Vomen will work in their self-selected groups, along 

lines of their chosen activities. 

5. No work will be interrupted, but co-ordinn.ted and 

directed. 

6. Registration will be carefully classified and a dis- 

tinction made between professional or trained service, 
and amatevir or untrained service. 

7. Expert Government information and advice vail be avail- 

able for local conditions and needs. 

8. State funds when available, personal contributions, 

great and small, and benefits of various kinds will 
aid in financing the work of thr State Division. 
Economy will follov; better coordim:tiou and direct 
distribution to all divisions of authoritative stand- 
ards and methods. 

9. Hie Headquarters of the V/oman's Corai-nittee of the Council 

of National Defense at ',7ashington, D.C., will serve 
as a clearing house of women's activities throughout 
the country, and bo the agent to transuit promptly 
any demands of the Governinent which may be met by 
women's organizations. 

10. Each community v/ill be free to work out the details accord- 

ing to its own needs, following only the general plan 
aa outlined. 



'•(i?=-*.-.si:!':i 



loaued by the >7oman'o Committee, 
Council of National Defence, 
•fechington, D. C. , Auguct 20, 1917. 



;i/HAT ONfi TO'i/N HAS DONE. 

The men and women in thic mid-v/cctern suburban town 
of atout 5000 people, were animated by the deciro conmon to all 
Araericanc to be of real service to the nation at this time. They 
came to the cone Iug ion that the best way to begin was to make their 
community life ac fine and servicablc and uplifting ac it could be« 

A democratic group of representative men and .vomen 
canvassed the situatr.on thoroughly, and made up their minds what, 
in general, needed to be done to carry out their purpose. The 
V&r Emergency Union was formed, the men choosing certain linos of 
work, the women certain others, A joint committee was provided for 
and headquarters establisX^ed in the Coramiinity House, with a paid 
Secretary and voluncoor help. 

The men devoted themselves to: 

1. FinariCe, 

2, Recruit inge 

3, Drills for home defense. 

4. Pood Production. 

Vacant areas were plowed by tractor and assigned to 
citizens; home gardens encouraged; lectures on gar- 
dening given; and seeds and fertilizer furnished to 
boys and girls, who were under responsible leader- 
ship. 

5, Organized sale of surplus garden produce in the village 



throu^ one of the markets, and ectabliched a co-operative central 
delivery for all the ctorec, 

6c Started an Honor Roll placed in the centpr of the village 
for all men entering the .\rmy and Navy. 

7. On July 4th, oa the village green reproduced v/ith full 
detail of cocturaeo and wording, two dramatic ccenec from American 
history - "vVsGhington Receiving hie S.vord and Commiocion from the 
Continental Congrccs," and ''The Signing of the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence." Thcce proved a c-plendid ctimulant to patriotic endeavor* 

8, Dovelcp-N^ the Boy Scout organization to great uccfulneDs, 

9. Organised cportc and cntcrtainmcntc for men at an adjacent 
Training Stat j on. 

Tlio women called together all the precidentc of the local 
organizations of v/cmcn in the village, including aorac women to act 
for the ur.crgani^cd women, and formed a local xmit of the V/oman'o 
Committee, Council of Mati.,.nal Defence. A permanent chairman was 
elected, who, >.v?,rh tv/o other women choten by the central group, becamo 
mcmbero of the joint committee of the "/ar Emergency Union, 

The women choso for their work: 

1, Regiatration of village womon for service* 

2, Pood conservation. 

(a) Thia included lecturac and dcmonctrationc by several 
homo economics experts on all aspects of food preserva- 
tion and substitution; householii and personal economy; 
budget making, etc. All these lectures are given in 
the Joman's Clubhouse, and arc free to women in the 
village, - the Club assuming all expenses, 

(b) Actual canning drying and preserving are carried on in 



' ' .'T*^>: 



the school house kitcten in charge of an expert, worncn 
bringing their own vcgcta-blcs and fruit, and paying the 
actual cost of jars, etc, 

(c) Certain days arc sot aside in tho school for ^hc i^mters 
of the Relief and Aid Society to can surplus vegotabloc 
donated from private gardens, to he used next >/inter 
in chair ty worko 



'* ^"^ %lTUris^ house is open overy day for the making of 
surgical supplies, hospital g?.rmcnts and comfort 
bags for soJ.dicrs at home and abroad. 

4. Navy ^eaguo.^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^ .^^^^^.^ Clubhouse, 

making supplies and comforts for the sailors. 

^* ^^E'.-crv^sev/ing society and church guild or fraternal 

sr^ ^n tho village has a,-reed to keep in session 
a]l simmer to make garments for the v/omen and children 
of' our Al] ios- Money to buy materials for the .vork 
is raisea by a systematic collection of waste papor 
tw:ce a aeo-<. This is marketed with a substantial 
T}^,)-f it in a city sixteen miles distant; delivory 
tr/oks othorvvlsG rccui-ning- empty, arc the means of 
tran-3poi' ta t ion : 



6. Ivlaintena-icc of So L^\ .'^oncics, ^ , . ^ ^ . • , 

A cr-up u'lciOi tic direction of the Relief and Aid 
S.-c-;ety has -ardcrtakGn to see that all local charities 
ar^ maixtainod. Volunteers arc assigned from the 
regir.trat:lon lists to help at playgrounds, parks and 
bcac>iOf ' a nunbcr arc taking social service training 
in a School of Civics and Philanthropy, and receiving 
praot^'csL cxDoricncc in neighborhood visiting, under 
the direction of the Community Kurcc; others have 
voLuntee-cd for s:rvice in a nearby city settlement 
and a day nursery, and a city infant welfare station 
is supjpoftcdt 

7. Three groups of Camp Fire Girls were organized who arc 

giving splendid coran'onity service^ 

8. The women joined others in neighboring towns to maintain 

"A Khaki Teahouse" for of fie err, in the Training Camp. 
Thry ent-rtain soldiers and sailors at beach parties, 
at the Cormunity House and in privat' homes. One 



parish house is opcnod one night a week for dances for the 
men rro;n the Training C,rjr,-pc Iliagazincs and newspapers arc 
collGctori for the soldiers, and one serving society undertakes 
to mend their clothes. 

There was a joint committee of men and women on Public 
Health and Sanitation v;hich undcri-oik a complete survey of village 
conditions. This resulted in a better system for the. disposal of 
garbage, purir--.ea'';icn of the water supply and a campaign for the 
elimination of ^'.ll 'szAic'Aar; watrr-'j Tubbi sh piles, tin cans and other 
breeding places for flics, liioBoultoos and microbes, 

AltcgGth:! ?t is as bu^y a x'illagc as one could vvish, showing 
the finest kinii o" construct ivo patriotism, defined in terms of vvork :. 
close at homoo 



/^ 



COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE 

WASHINGTON 

August 16, 1917. 



•S COMMITTEE 

1814 K Street, N« 



TOOT) PLS!3g: CJ-IPAIGH.. 

TO TKE; STAT3 CH.'JB:.Oi: 

The Food Idminictration wishes the V/oraan'c 
Committee to round up the pretsnt food pledge carirpaign by the 
fifth of oeptember. ./ill you not urge all of your workers to 
hasten their canvas., and instruct them definitely to talce no 
signatures after that date? At the same time, the organization 
should plan to have the cards collected and shipped as rapidly 

as possible. 

For our guidance in developing plans for future 
.vork, it is essQ5*lal that ae have certain information irn^ediately 
regarding the v;ork already done. /e are, tterefore, enclosing 
here.vith a questionaire .vhich we -vill ask you to fill as fully as 
you can, and return at once. This is not intended for a final 
report. :e shall ask for that later, but v/e will appreciate your 
sending us this preliminary report promptly. 

Please keep the organization .vhich has handled the 
food pledce cam.^^ign together, study its weaknesses and prepare to 
strengthen it in any way that you can. It will be needed in a few 
weeks for a second drive in which the Pood Administration v;ill ask 
for the cooperation of the .Voman's Committee, 



/^ 



It ic an error for v/ornen to feel, as they do in come 
localities, that unnece..nry stress has been laid upon the necessary 
economy and elimination of waste in household managen:ent. The 
dangers depicted are not imaginary, but real, nore real fr^n most 
people imagine, and I.lr. Hoover, who in Belgium was in the midst of 
and witnessed the horrors of hunger which cost thousands of lives, 
especially of the aged a^id children, who were unable to bear the 
physical strain of undernourishment, is seeking with the zeal of 
one who imows to prevent similar disasters from overtaking us. 

Let the women of this country refuse to indul-e in 
the spirit of criticism, too rife amon^ the ,.eople. Let us set an 
example of loyal confidence in the mn whom the President selected 
for the special purpose of preventing suffering from hunger among 
either the people at home, or the array abroad. 

It is our .rivilege and duty to uphold the ?ood Admin- 
istrator in every helpful way, by urging women every./here to ..rove 
their oft repeated claim that they are ready to serve their country 
.vf^never called upon, that we may do our part in bringing a speedy 
victory to the cause of justice and democracy* 

Sincerely yours. 

Chairman, .Voman's Coimiittee. 
Council of National Defense, 



QU^STIOIJAIRE 
In Re: Food Pledge Campaign. 



State 



1. Committee in charge of campaign' 



2. Ho./ many cardc distrit)uted?_ 



3, By viiom ^.'ere cards fr.mished and in what number?_ 

a) State Gouncil? 

b) Roman's Co'.'.ni' tee? 

c) Pood ^^ministration? 

4, How \7ero '-ard;: rsr-irned to Tfeshington? 

s) By irr:.i''iv.v-al signerc? 

b) I'-i .^uUc to I-'ood ;.d.7iinistration? 



5, (a) Ictimate number if returned by individuals., 
(b) C-i^e actual iv^^r.b^r iT rjt'amed in bulk. 



6. Estimate nui.iber cf '.vor'.rert: engaged in campaign. 



7. wliat methods -.vere used to distribute cards? 

a) Horse to hcvse canvass? 

b) ?•" >i.il Cf^rrie-s? 

c) 1-7 ?cliC3? 

d) By newspapers and meetings? 



Signature_ 



/^ 



pH8.5 



JtBt Of *'<»«ai 't^t« Aj^iata la the iLo?no d.; aonotaratioa 
Vork In t'm) fifteen Joiither;' :tatoa. 






Little i o<SK, 



Alabsuia* 



Axlsaiiai.Bi 



liliM /v^aco :).lm ■■arria, 

■'ap8« iioasie ta^lo^? ood» ) 
ijioo >flls • o\7dle, t 

t?W 3. 

111'!;, He leu B, V,"oJ.cott, 

Miaa Alico J, Eicicfoaa, 

r:iss VeMa J'. •:-' lira*, 

i:i88 .^usle V* ^.Yoil, 

A Tictiltur©! Ooiloj'S)* 

I'j^, Jaa© S, Mc/ilnnozi, 

145.16 %h.» 

rtits .?3a A* ahaiKii.::r» 
.itiUtjater. 

I'l«8 Lrtilth !<• "SXPOtt, 

c/o ■ Tiatiarop (-ollcvj©, liocic Hill, 

liiM Vireitila i'* iiooTQt ''''-^i ossoo. 

Kio:-nrlll©» 



Florida. 

r!oor?;ia. ( -'.asietaat tate 'coats.) 

iCcjnttto]^/. 
Louisiaiia* 

Jliaalosippi, 

r.orth Cciroltoa. 

'JiLlaao.Ta« 



rdse Jessie •'• llanrls. 
Collet statioxu 

Miss alia a. /V. -.iw;, 
Blas^t{jbixr?:> 

Elas -iadio R, ''use bji, 
•■oigGjitOTano. 



Virginia.* 
.?a8t Virr:Liia. 



pM 0.3 



COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE 

WASHINGTON 
VOMANS COMMITTEE . , ^. 

July 30, 1917 



To the State Cheirmen: 

In furtherance of our suggestion of July 6th regarding the pres- 
ervation of surplus foods, v;e v/ish now to iriake a definite suggestion as to 
how to obtain cooperation and avoid duplication of effort between ourselves r 
and other governrrent agencies engaged in fo'd conservation, especially in the 
immediately important work of saving perishable fruits and vesretables. 

In nearly every state the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the 
State Agricultural College in cooperation carry on an .Agricultural and Home 
Economi3s Extension Service, the director of v/hich is located at the State 
Agricultural College. This service is organized by counties and often has 
representetives in every part of the stato. Its work was closely concornid 
with food conservation, ov^n before the present emergoncy, as is shown by 
the fact that in the last seven years several thousand canning and home demon- 
stration clubs have bec;n organized throughout the country under extension 
auspices. .They have a total of about 300,000 members, all of whom have been 
taught to conserve fruits, -^legetables, tind other foods by the most approved 
modern methods. Heretofore this extension work has been done chiefly in 
rural comii.wnities, but if -Congress passes the so-called Lever bill, nov/ under 
consideration, funds will be iirujediately available for similar work in cities. 
The city e.. tension work will also be Ccarrie-d out by Federal and State author- 
ities in cgoperation, ^nd the State Director of Zxtension Work will be in 
charge in each state. Tentative plans for the city work have already been 
worked out in ir.any states and trained leaders will be appointed to carry them 
out locally. The Food ^dminislratian is also in close touch with the exten- 
sion v.orkers, both in Washington and in the different States- 

In view of these facts, it seems of the utmost importance f.2£^_each 
of our State Chairmen to get into communication at once v>/ith her State Pi rector 
of_j;;xteftaiOii work and learn from him what has alre_dy been done in that State 
tov,.j.rds saving surplus fruits and vegetables, and what his plans are for further 
work along this and similar lines. He, or the person under hiij Vv-ho deals 
more especially wi th food conservction in the home, will doubtless be able to 
give practical suggestions as to organization, equipment, st^te publications, 
etc. 

Tne name and adaress of the Director of Extension work in your State 



^ 



pH 6.5 



-2- 



\Ve urge that you advise v.ith him at once ..s to how you cun best maje 
your plans fit in v.ith those of his workers. We also suggest ^^ ^/^^^jj^"^''^ °' 
ycTjr County • Chairmen to find out if there is, in her county, a loc^l e^t^n- 
?ion .!oTK^ in home economics (usually called - Home Demonstration .-gent) ^nd 
if so,, to consult vath her at once. In counties where there is no -^se^t for 
home economics, the County ^gent for agriculture may be able to make nelpful 
suggestions as he has an intimate knowledge of local conditions. 

We are sending under separate cover a number o£ copies of this 
letter that you may send them at once to your county chairmen. 



Chairman, Woman's Committee. 



PLAN OF OH&ANI?'ATION 
ADOPTED BY THE \V01\UXf'o OOJ'MITIEE OF 'iHE 
COUJJCIij OF NATIONAL DEI'EtTSE 

at its first meeting held in '.Va^^iington, D.C, 
May 2, Z, 4, 5, lvil7. 



May 23rcL, 1917 



1, The V/o'man's Con^mittee cf ^ho Co-cincil of HationaT Dofense havin-g teen appointed 
on April 21, 1917, by.-.he Co'ii.cil c:L Ifetlonal Tcfon-.e* for tlie purpose of co-. 
ordinating the organisoe -ov.es cf -h3 ^vonen of tho co.m^ry in order to secure 
greater efficiency in "da fens e v/cr> for the i;aticn>',. hpve ber^n their v.-ork hy the 
appointment of a teraporarv c^ai-aan for oac:;. of tho iB s^atr-c and the District of 
Columbia, 

2. The temporary chairman i-, instructed to call into conference at the earliest 
possible date the presiderti. or repreren:Ptr.ve3 of al], wcm.Dn^s organizations having 
state-wide scope, state hranohr^^ oi -vomen's Fational or^-nii^ationc a:.d si^ch in- 
dividuals as she may select to re^-e-^nt th- st£.to at l^ig^ and -mcr^cniced women. 
The invitation to parlioir^te i'V. ti-i^ cnr.fsrencc ^}.oa:d he r-.ost d-monratic, and 
recognize cluhs, relifiovs '^enom^-lat^on., -raternal r.ccitties, philanthropies, paA *■ 
triotic and protective ai^sociationr of a^l aorts, 

3. This group, with its comittass ..n coun^;les, cities and tovms, shall constitute 
the State Division, and Veccme tho offi.^al ropronentative of the Woman^s Coii..ittrj, , 
of the Council of National De-ense for the state. It shall be the duty, therefore, 
of the State Division to see '.hat all necessary for-.s of patriotic sorv:ce or of 
defense programs, as outlined by ^he National V'cnar^s Cormittee are actively carried 
) forward by organizations or indi-ia^ials. ^-hi^ State Division shall continue dA^rlng 
the war and as long thereafter as th^ Council cf Nation;.! Defense may direct, 
i. The name of the state co:rmittee r.hall :>e the "Vtoan^s Coma^ittee of the Council 
of National Defense, ina.me oX st.-^ te ) Divi<3icn," 

xThe Council of National Defense was created hy Act of Congress and approved 
August 29th, 1916. It is 2om.posed cf the Secretaries of War, Navy. Interior, 
Agriculture, Commerce and Labor. 



5. The State Division thus forned and named shall elect a permanent . cl-^ir- 
man, a vice-chairman or vice-chairmen, and: honorary vice-chairmen, (if desired) 
a secretary and a treasurer, and such other officers as -.-re-y be necessary. 
It shall adopt such rules or by-laws as it nay find desirable for the conduct 
of its business. 

6v The elected officers, together ./ith such additional members as the 
Division may select, slmll com^.ose an executive Comi:iittee, authorized to do 
business for the Division under condi^:ions v/hich the Division stell define. 
7, The State Division will find it advantageous to departmentalize its 
work v/ith a competent chief or chairm^in for each department. It is suggested 
that the chairman of departments given belo-v be elected as members of the 
Executive Committee. They shall be selected for such c Airmanships because of 
special fitness or training for such .vcrk, and need not of necessity be heads 
of state organizations. The follow rng departmouts are suggested as those 
which will probably prove necessary tc ccnriinate and make effective the work 
of the women of the Sta:;er 

1. rJegistration. 

2. Food Production and Horns Economics,. 

3. Pood guanuiwitilj., ^X^/// /..^g.^c^/C^^^^^t^^^-^ . 
4» \7omen in Indu-str-y, 

5. Child .Velfare, 

6. Maintenance of Existing Soci:il Serrice Agencies. (Settlements, District of 

Public Eeaith llarsing. Philanthropies, Day ITurseries, 
HospxtaVs, General Social Service, etc.) 

7. Safeguarding of Moral and Spiritual Forces. 

8. Education. 

(a) Schools, literature, speakers. 

(b) . Information, or organization, of training classes for women. 

* 9. Liberty Loan, 

10. Home and Foreign Relief r (This /« rk is referred to the Fed Gross. 
Home Relief is that concerned .vith the families of 
soldiers and sailors, } 

It is suggested that committees on finance and publicity be appointed. 



* Chairmen foi these Departments should not be appointed without consultation 
with the Roman's Committee in <Vashington. 



Shfict - 5 > 



The general method of organisation for a city or tovm is the same as 
that for the state. 

The Officers of the State Division, or coimittee deputized by them, 
shall appoint in all cities and tovms, a competent v;oman to serve as t_e mporary 
chairmn. It shall ho her duty to call :nto conference the presidents or their 
representatives of all local organizations as soon a.3 possible o A city (or tovm) 
conraittee shall be formed composed of the president, or one representative, of 
each cooperating organization and certain vvomen Shosen from the city at large. 
This coimnittee in all to;ms shall be called the (name ^ tovm) Unit of the Woman's 
Committee. The com^mttee in cities of over 25,000 population shall be taiovm as 
the V;o:ran's Conmittee of the Covaicil of l^tJ onal Defense of (.name of citz ) . 

This city or tov/n comittee shall elect its permanent officers and 
executive committee, and act under direction of the State Division in all matters 
relating to the general defense program, as ouvlined in the departments, each 
coimrunity being allowed, ho-;ever, to v/or^r out the derails of the plan in accordance 
with local conditions. 

The city committee shall proceed as rapidly as possible to establish au::- 
iliary Units in each v.'ard. The same process of the appointment of a temporary 
chairman as was followed in the organization of State and City will probably prove 
the most successful plan. The ward organization conference, however, should be a 
general meeting of t%e women of the ward and the Unit will be composed of in- 
dividual members, the idea being to reach all women of every class and make the 
V defense program comprehensible to them. 

This plan of proposed organization merely links together in complete work^ 
ing cooperation existing organizations of women. The woman's comimttees of states 
and cities are designed to be a federation of all organizations of women. There 
nay be women, however, who are not members of any organization represented in the 
City or Town Committee. For the benefit of siich women, freedom to form or join 
other units should be allowed, and they m.ay serve on all coni^iittees of state, city 
.>or iovm; the primary object being to coordinate and make effective the patriotic 
service of as many women as possible. 



Sheet - 4 - 

Dep.irtmenta rnr.y add individual membership. Clubs, church societies 
and groups of various kinds miy r.ff ili:ite directly with a Department with 
whose -work they wish to cooperate. 

Organizations rnr.y be found ali'eady engaged on some special line of 
work which may suitably bo charged with the responsibility for continuation 
of such work. 

A committee for each county rra y be appointed by the State Division, 
in which case it will be the duty of the county committee to establish Units 
in rural townships and in villages. It should be the ultimate aim of each 
State Division to secure a good working committee in each county, but for 
the irmediate needs, the organization of cities and tovms is of importance, 

Kie object of the plan of organization proposed is to coordinate 
women's organizations and their working forces in order to enlist at once 
the greatest possible number in the service which the national crisis de- 
mands. It is also most desix^able that no defease work of any kind alre?.dy 
done shall be lost. Each State Division will be expected to investigate 
the work under way and so to coordinate activities as to eliminate dupli- 
cation and overlapping. Each state and city will find problems peculiar 
to itself but the good judgment of all women in charge of organized work 
will 30 clearly realize the importance of unification that the solution 
should readily be found. It should be remembered that the Woman's Conamlttee 
of the Council of National Defense desires to conserve everything useful in 
the way of v/ork and organization and advises centralization in the interest 
of higher efficiency. 



nf :^X~-- ■^■::Z 



, i' ■■!'.'.;■ -s 



■ i- :..i-:r; 



COia^LEE LIST OF STA-PS CHAIBIEN V/ITH ADDRESSES. 

■uLABAMA - ilrs. James P. Hooper, Selnia, 

ARIZONA - Mrs. Eugene Brady O'lJeill, 701 North Cenr.ral Ive, , Phoeni::. 
-ARKAHSAS - Mrs, Joseph Frauenthal, Convay. 

CALIFORNIA - Mrs. Herbert A. Cable, 71S S, Hill bt. , Lcs Aiigeles<, 
COLORADO - Mrs. W. H, Kistler, Roo- Z3„ otaie House ^ Denver, 
COIWECTICUT - Miss Caroline Ruut;?-.He&s, Greenwich. 
DSLA7ARE - Mrs. Charles R- Miller, ^'ilmingtoiu 
DISTRICT OF COLU.'vffilA - Mrs. Archibald Hopkins. leSG M^ss, Ave, 
FLORIDA - Mrs. Jm. Hockerj Ocf.la, 

IDAHO - Mrs. Samuel N. Hays, ClZ Prarklir. St,, icisp, 
G30RCtIA - Mrs. Sarauej. M, Iniran, 552 Psachtree St.c , .-it Lenta. 
ILLINOIS - Jlrs, Joseph T, Bov/cr ^12^^;,'cs->-. Ad^r?? W:., Chicago,/-) / /> /^ y 

INDIANA - fl^JiT^mi t-.t.QO c^y^ -i.-v-nn-n'fi '{' x X^ _ r^-'?'^" KT i '"?, ..- i » ■ >.■ . >.. 1 ^ » -j-^/ /) ^^ . 

IQ-lk - ISrst Francis 3, vTrAtiey, V/ebFter Jit/c 

PLffifSAS - Mrs, David .7. Mulvanc . Topoka. 

ISNTUCKY - Mrs. He]-.n r.-uc-.?. 14ri.-?rd Ave,, Loivid-'lJ.]/.:. 

L0UISIA1:A - Miss Hilla Phelpj- , Roots ^OS, -..„ Charleo Hotel, New Orleans^ 

M4INE - Mrs. Frederjuk H.. .ibboot, Saco. 

M4ESACHUS3TTS - Mrs. ICatiieniei Triayer^ C'tai e Hou^e, Eostcn.- 

MARYL.yiD - Mrs. Edv/ard Shoonaker, 522 Park Ave,. , Baltimore, 
. MINIESOTA - Mrs. Thomas G, ."/inter, 2517 Dean ik;ulevard, Minneapclis. 

MICHIGAN - Mrs. Caroline Bartlett Crane, Plalamazoo. 

MISSISSIPPI - Mrs. Edward McGehee, Como. 
\/^nSSOURI - J4rs. B. F. Bush, 905 Locust St., st. Louis 

MONTAITA - Mrs. Tyler E. Thompson, Missoula. 

IKBRASKA - Miss Sarka B. Hrbkova, 308 Fraternity Bldg. , Lincoln. 

NEVADA - Mrs. Pearis Buckner Ellis, Carson City, 

if;./ RyrPSHIRE - I^Irs. mry I. .'ood, Portsmouth, P.- 0. Dra.ver 88, 



-2- 



iraw JSRSJ5Y - Mrs. Charles .U Stockton, Ridgev/ood. 

KSW I.EXICO - Mrs. ,7ashington L, Lindsay, Santa Fe, 

K3;v YORK- Ivlrs. .to. Grant Brown, Hotel Astor, 2350 Broadway, I'ievv York* 

NORTH CAROLINA - Ulrs. Eugene Re illy, Cterlotte, 

NORTH DAKOTA - Llrs. H. G. Vick, Cavalier. 

OHIO - Mrs. George Zimmernian, 224 Birchav-i St,, Fremont, 

OKLAHOI.'LA. - Mrs. Bugene B. Lav/son. Vf'V.'a'ai 5"'8 Ossge St, 

PENNSYLVANIA - Mrs. J. ,/illis iS'rt.ir., IfOV .felnat St. , Philadelphia, 

OREGON - Mrs. Chas, H. Castner, Hood Rivera 

RHODE ISLAND - Mrs. Rush Sturges, 110 Benevolent St., Providence, 

SOUTH CAROLINA - iMrs, P„ Louise I.Iayes , Greenville. 

SOUTH DAKOTA - Ap-- CZ/^^^^^^^ V- V ^C^L^^^-ihtiLU ^ <fU.i-t<^\ vSl^-^ 

TBl^TN5oS?.E - Mrs. George .V. Denney, Kho>ville, 

TEMS - Mrs. Pred Fleming. 1954 E. Carroll Ave-., Dallas, 

UTAH- Mrs. ./, N. .Villlams, B-;.'':^op Bi;?^. , Salt I?]-e City. ■ 

V^MONT - ".Irs. Jno. 1, ■.7eel:i-. 95 Map.'a 3t, ^ K.id:-.r-y,(.:ryc 

VIRGINIA- :irs. B. B. Munford, •''^'3 E- ^.-r^; ^.s Ht, , Ri.-:-bmcnd, 

/AoHI!:GTON - Mrs. ./infiell P.. fvairn. V.r- CoVo Bi^ig, . Seattle. 
i/ISCONSIN - Mrs. Henry H. Morgan, St^.te B.ouse, Madison. 

<YOMING - Mrs. B, A. ^■lortnn, Cheyen.vSc 

'.GST VIRGINIA - lirs, Joseph G- Cochrtn,, 10?-6 Iiarlzet St., Parkersburg, 
.iLAbI'14 - lilrs. Thomas J. Donchoe, Valde;:,. 



:& NEW V7AY TO S-WE BPEAD 



Few women have an idea of the commercial machinery which makes it 
possible in every town of size to get at any time of the driy a loaf of 
freshly baked bread. We so take this convenience for granted that we do 
not exercise even ordinary forethought about the runovmt of bread that we 
order in the morning. We knov; that if wo take tv;o loaves and find our- 
selves short toward tea time, that an extra fresh loaf is easy to got. 
It is only when our attention is challenged that common sense tells us 
that this is no matter of course but the result of large preparation on 
somebody's part. V/hat the machinery is has just been made clear by the 
Council of National Defense, 

The fact that this war is to be fought on wheat as much if not 
more than on guns and men is becoming clear to us all. The Government 
is studying the practical points of saving wheat without too largely dis- 
turbing business. The Council of National Defense includes a Commercial 
Economy Board. It is the business of this Board to see where we can make 
useful economies in the distribution of things. Naturally one of the 
first things to which this Board turned its attention was wheat products, 
and quite naturally it seems now from v>rhat they have found, the first 
thing that they challenged was the continuous supply of fresh bread on 
the bread retailer's shelves. They sav/ that he was carrying every day 
more than he sold, which meant that the bakers who supplied hira were 
making more than they sold. The Conmercial Economy Board undertook an 
investigation. It is one of the prettiest pieces of work that has 
recently been turned out in 'Vashington. 

The Board discovered that largely for competitive reasons these 
bakers kept the shelves of the bread retailer stocked fully with fresh 
bread. In doing this they did not expect the retailer to sell all the 
bread. Their point was that the retailer should always have enough bread 
30 that there would be no complaint on his part that he was not supplied, 
•nie retailer knowing that he would have more bread than he could sell 
never required his customers to order ahead. His customers were trained, 
so far as bread v/as concerned, to toil not neither to spin, nothing to 
do but order at any hour of the day. It requires little thinking to 
see that this reckless competition means waste at some point. As a matter 
of fact the Commercial Economy Board finds that it meajis a considerable 
waste, one which at the present time cannot be allowed to continue. As 
nearly as the Board can estimate with the help of the bakers of the 
country, who have been taking a hearty interest in the investigation, 
it should be said to their credit, fully four per cent of the bread 
baked in this country is returned by the retailors, the bakers them- 
selves going to the expense to collect it. 

Now what is done with this four per cent of returned loaves? 
Some of it is sold to the poor who go direct to the bakers for it. Of 
the four per cent returned, hovrever, probably one rjid one-half per cent 
is fed to pigs, chickens, and other animals. Now make a little cal- 
culation. Suppose in your town the bakers put out ten thousand loaves 
a day, a small town requires as many, there is one hundred and fifty 
loaves fed to tho pigs and chickens: extend this calculation. There 
are bakers in our large cities who turn out at least ha.lf a million 
loaves a day. That means 7,500 for the pigs. 

It needs no argument to those who realize what the shortage of 
wheat means to convince them that this leakage must be stopped. All 
that thinking people ask is how it can be done. The bakers themselves 
are beginning to take steps. Inquiry among tho bakers show that at least 
eighty per cent are in favor of stopping bread returns, that is, of 
selling to the retail bread dealer only what he believes he can dispose 
of. That if he orders more, it is his loss, if less, it is to his cus- 
tomers' inconvenience. 



Page 2. 



And here the wonien come in. T&ey aro the brond buyui-e, nnd 
their plan means that they must make tlxoir calcul.-^tions for tho day's 
supply and do it in such a busineas-like fashion that they will not 
be left in the afternoon without a loaf, that if they are so left, 
they will not complain to their grocer, but that they will accept 
the fact as a proof of their own lack of business foresight in order- 



This really important saving can only be effected if the wometi 
of the country generally back it up. The ''/Oman's Committee of th© 
Coxoncil of Hational Defense asks the women of the country immediately 
to begin to order bread for twenty-four hours instead of for temporary 
nnodB. It asks them to explain carefully to their neighbors who may 
not have been reached in any way the reason for this request. Intelli- 
gent women must everjwhere back up the bakers and bread dealers in the 
no-return plan. If they will do this we can save the one and one-half 
per cent that now goes to the pigs and chickens. It will be putting 
this many loaves a day into the hands of hungry women and children and 
fighting soldiers, and will bo one element in that great task that we 
have before us of so handling the v/heat crops of the v/orld that every 
man and woman in all of the Allied world will have enough to eat in 
the long and hard struggle before us. 



COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE 

WASHINGTON 



WOMAN'S COMMITTEE 



Jr.ly 30, 1917 



To the State Chairncn: 

V.'o are sonding vax copies of a letter on " Reduction of Del- 
iveries," -Titten by :Tis3 Ir^s: II. ? rocll cf the 'Vocan's Ccmr.itteo and 
sent out at the joint request of our Coirmittoe and of the Commercial 
"cononiy Board of the Council of Natio:ial DefonsG. TliE :iA.OTZ!R IS URGUTT 
AND SHOULD BE TAIdl UP A'2 OITGE. 

The aiT-pcal to the vonon to act in this natter is ir.ado on 
the basis of patriotic service and not prii-narily for the sake of the 
econoriy that may bo involved, 

Tlie draft on September 1st r.dll take men from the delivery 
service throughout the coiintry. If so"g provision is not immodiately 
made for decrease in the m^-.be: of dclivorios the mGrcIiants will, of 
necessity, take men fron other occupations v/Mch may be vital to the 
vrelfarc of the i::tior., to fill the places left vacant by men called to 
the Army, ITo man ouglit to be taken fro.:i essential v,?ar industries to 
carry parcels v/hich vomen nis'ht carry for themselves, or be reqiiired to 
make repeated and unnecessary trips at the call of improvident house-v/ives. 
This is the time v/hen every act of men and v/omen must be made to count defiri'* 
itely in the prosecution of the rrar and every bit of \Tseless effort inust be 
elimiiiated. 

Tlie Co:7nercial Eco:iom.y Bo;.rd ■':as asked the state councils of 
defense and the merchants' associations to malce a concerted effort to 
decrease the number of deliveries aiid to curtail the privilege of returning 
goods, but neither councils nor trade-associations can effect this imich 



needed reform v.itho^t tho cooperation of the purchasers, the great majority 
Of whom are v;omca.. Will you, therefore, after taldng up the matter v;ith 
your State Council of Defense, do everything possible to help in this v;orlc? 
Gomnrunicate vdth your local chairmen at once, carry the campaign to the 
» ..-.Tovies.' and ask all the papers in your State for publicity; popularise the 
.ove^^nt by cnrryi.^ ho.e your ovm pac.:ages and encouraging your neighbors 

to do so. 

In all the smaller corm;uiities it will be feasible to discuss 

this question with your local merchants and see if by your loyal support and 
practical assistance they cam.ot v.orlc out a scheme of central or cooperative _ 
delivery which will save many useless trips and result in valuable economies. 
DO not expect, however, that the prices will drop at once, or 
until the merchants hr.ve had time to rearrange their service, and their 
-delivery equipment, (much of which may be utilized for government service,) 
and until they are convinced that the women are sincere in their detennina- 
tion to help effect this reform. Satisfactory adjustments can undoubtedly 
be made and prices will certainly tend to fall, not rise, under the new 
f>arraaagement. BUT ^ MATTER OF PRIIB IIPORTAITCE IS TIE SPEED ^.ITH V/HICH TIffi 
PLM CM BE STARTED M© PUT lUTO OPERATIOil BEFORE :3N ^Jffi CALLED SEPTEMBER ISB. 

We enclose a copy of a comunication on this subject sent to 
the state councils of defense by the Council of national Defense through its 
.-section on Cooperation .vith States;- and letters to retail merchants and 
merchants associations bearing on this subject. 

Ifey we count on you to help create strong public opinion in 
favor of this reform, which may have ver^^ far reaching effects in National 



economy? 

Very sincerely yotirs. 



Chairman \/oman«s Committee 



.j: -iaor, r'.i f 



^ 



Bulletin - Nuraljer Three. 

V/oroen's Comraittee 
^ of the 

' Coimcil of National Defense 

. .e Of the full cooperation of wo.en v.ith the Governnent in 
.He importance of the ful P ^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^ 

the readjustment of the cc.aon practxces of Ixfe 

^ ^hp council of national Defense 
. n.. near The woman's Cor^-.ittee of the Council 
more and more clear. •!■"« . ^.u^^ vt^t lies 

, ...■."•■••'-•"-■--■:\::j;:::.: :::..•.. 

i.-,.^ ThP effectiveness of the Daujtxu& 
in this cooperation* THe eiieooa. 

„ t Of .he .a>..a o. .he cou.«y to es^hXUh the plan o. .0 .res. re- 
• ) *"" '"'"^ "' * , ^, „, l„,ves of bread that were gom 

_. . or.r to ea. the to. of tho.a. ^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^ 

to Pigs and chickens is daily heconung clear. 

. th.t vaste and the v;omen are standing by them 
the cow^try are today cutting out that .aste an ^^ 

11^/1 tn their attention. i^ is v^+j 

,„„..-..-~».»---v:;;:r:.r:.,:: 

: „..., »,.... .". >■•• ■— •• •■" — •' " 

a<5 thev discover them.- 

..e sa»e Boar. v,Mch has ralUe. the ,,aBen to cooperate in eav.n. 

. , .e. is calling on the. nou to cooperate in another saving - 
the wasted loaves, is caJ-xmfe 



e*^ 



ono vastly greater; one which if properly conducted v/ill free not loss than a 
htmdrcd thousand men and a tremendous amount of equipment, to be used v/hcrc they 
arc really needed. 

Just as in the case of bread, this nc\/ saving coracs through a reform in one 
of the ovcry-day practices of life - the v/ay v;c got our daily groceries, meat 
fruit, vogotablcs. They come to us almost like tho I!anna from Heaven. All you 
did in the case of Hanna, I boliove, was to pick it up; all v/e do in tho case of 
our groceries is to ask for them - ask for them at any hour of tho day - a 
dozen timos a day if v/c '//ill - in any quantity, a bo:: of matches, a half dozen 
bananas, a pound of steak, and presto; it is put on the kitchen table. 

The thing v/hich takes no forethought on our part, which just happens, is 
pretty sure to be an criponsivc thing to soraobody. Washington, in the interest of 
the great War, has been trying to find out \;hat it costs to relieve tho \:on^n of 
the coimtry of the neod of forethought in ordering, in making it possible for 
thorn to ask and get anything that they find they want for their households at 
any hour of tho day. It's a big price wo pay. 

The Bureau of Comnorce has fovmd that in the city of Washington it costs 
7.4 per cent of the gross sales of food to pay for its delivery. On a food bill 
of about twelve and three-quarter million of dollars in 1S16, Washington paid 
over $900,000 for sending the stuff to the purchasers. Naturally it cost more 
to deliver some things than others. Ice, bread, milk, ice croan, cost Washing- 
ton most. 

^That is true of Washington is true the coujitry over, so the Commercial 
Economy Board finds. It estimates that tho gross delivery oxponsc of retail 
grocers in the country is over $75,000,000 a year. What is this sum used for? 
For the hire of men to put up packages, to run the nujtibor of wagons and trucks 



o 



required, to put them in at your door, tc cp to your house not once but 
-J often a half doscn tines a day. 

Take any tovm of the couaitry of ton thoi\sand people and it probahly is 
spending throe per cent of the net sales of groceries in sending them to the 
purchasers. Again and again these purchasers come to the grocery, the 
butcher, railk depots, in carriages or cars, hut thoy rarely thinic of talcing 
home their purchases. A woi-^-an \/ill buy a package of ten-cent cereal and ex- 
pect it delivered. She •,.'ill rarely thiiik of carrying a }mlf dozen rolls, 
though she is on hoi- v/ay lionc. 

As a laatter of fact, the ncrchant does not often want her to carry her 
packages. His prouptnoss and v/illingncss to servo her irregular and careless 
habits of buying is one of the v/ays he bviilds up good-T7ill. Out canny mer- 
chants err in spoiling customers; in gratifying their v;hims, in fetching and 
carrying for then \mtil a woman has come to feel sometimes that if she offers 
^ to carry a bimdle she v/ill bo classed as an undesirable customer. 

The Great Necessity on us demands a prompt, vigorous cutting out of the 
waste in all delivery of foods. I have spoken here only of food products, but 
wc all know that what has been said applies equally to all sorts of shopping, 
and particularly to department stores. The report of the CoiDmercial Economy 
Board declares that in our great cities the cost to the department store of 
delivering packages is from eight to twonty-fivc cents apiece. It is no un- 
common thing for the cost of delivering an article to exceed the cost of the 
article, and probably one-half of the daily purchases of a department store 
might be carried home by the women themselves. 

Hew is all this VuJ?t, \innecessary uso of men and horses and trucks and 



f( 



L 



inoney and time to be cut out and the delivery syste::n put on a rational basis 
■/here it is strictly combined to /hat is necessary. 

J There are not a fe-v/ to'.ms in the country where it has already been 

put on such a basis by cooperative deliveries. j'uin Arbor, Michigan, has had 

such a delivery conducted by its rrijrchants for eiQht years. Formerly it took- 
seventy wagons to carry home the daily buyings of the people — now it takes but 
eighteen. In other towns there has been a saving: in cost of from tv/enty-five 
to seventy-five per cent, 

v/herever a cooperative delivery has been '.veil managed the average sav- 
ing has been aroused fifty per cent. 

Of course this means a reform in the methcd of ordering. One delivery 
a day is all that ought to be e:cpected under present conditions. If a .voinan 
* knows thab is all she v/ill get she v/ill quickly and easily reform her v/ays — or 
carry her extra btmdles. 

The Woman's Coinmittee of the Council of National Defense firmly believes 
that all that it is necessary to do today to secure hearty and prompt cooperation 
from women in carrying out such savings as this, that their fellovz-ocnamittee on 
the Council of National Lefense has der.,onst rated to be possible, is to let them 
know tliat it is asked. It ui'ges v/oivien everywhere, to aid in the reform. They 
can very promptly encourage their raerchants to establish central or cooperative 
deliveries, and call on them to limit their deliveries to not over one a day on 
each route, cutting our accommodation deliveries altogether. They can disci- 
pline themselves tc regular and thoughtful ordering. They can carry small pack- 
ages. They can discontinue the v/asteful practice of having goods sent home 

^ "on approval", v/hich nearly alv/ays means waste effort in delivery as well as 
extra charges v/ithin the stores. In a crrtain department store with total an- 
nual sales of '^Z, 000, 000 retunaed goods amount to twenty per cent, involving 



..5- 

a waste of more than (,;50,000 arjiually. 

Each v/oman v/ill do her part if groups of v;omcn cvcry.vhcrc will spread 
the reasons why the Govcrniiient through the V/oimn's Coi-.-b-iittcc is iraking this 
request, there v;ill bo no doubt that wc shall sec that hundred thousand men 
freed froia useless service. 

A package in the hand v/ill then be as truly a badge of honor as a Red 
Cross button on the coat lapel. 

*S|1********* ********* 



O 



^ 



€> 



COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE 

WASHINGTON 
WOMAN'S COMMITTEE 



August 22, 1917. 
1814 n Stroot, N, 7/, 



TO THE STAE CHAIRIEN: 

Thore vvili be 



through the coZl/cllitlTl 4%^"! distribution to your city chairmen. 

Association, -.vith infonn^tjI^v^'ri'J^' > ^•^^*^°"''^1 Community Center 

public echool contors^r;:^'uLl fo^^^^S^li^tS:"" "' '"^^ "'°' '' *^^ 

by the Uuitcf Stat!?;oJd\SS.triti;!^'tr^'''" ^' '°°^ roqui.itionod 
i^^cuing literature th^t v. -. i o' ri^ot o tT °°°^^^^^*^ ^^ preparing and 
neighborhood organizatln:^^t,:f-'™f'°,*^^ ^== of the .choolhoucc by 
number is chioffJ^^^J't rt 'thif ^Si^^t'^ 'f"' '°°' can:paigns/ Ihin 
^cthodc for food cor..itbco; tlSt . li'doubt?''l'r'^'"' "'^°"'^ °" 
to your local organisations. doubtless be suggestive and helpful 



/■ in the hands"''ore^ch oj^^h^^""''* ^°'' sufficient to put one copy 

^cnt direct AV^Sp^'i^t^^ngX^r'^^ ^c copies'.^ill be 

. each county, the number to bf S't ;bu;:^d ^m T'' °?J^ '' °"^ ^^^ ^°^ 

/ al copies bo wanted by the c^ fcv chlirt!^ ll^ ^° ''^^^- ^^^^^^ addition- 
^- / they can bo secured b? wr ttn^'^di" ct SVi '-^''^"^ °''" '"^'^ "^^^^' 
,' Burchard, c/o United Ita^^^-f'J^^^t^'?^! i^' -^-rd L. 



Burchard, c/c Un ^d Stat^^ ??od'v"' '\''" ^'^'°^' ^■^- ^^--<i^ 
■Vashington, D. C. '°°'' -^Ministration, 613 Vermont Avenue, 

Sincerely yours. 



^ 

^^■r- 



Chairman, .7oraan»E CommittcG 
Council of National Defense,' 



LJfR«RY OF CONGRESS 

021 929 371 I # 



vt 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

■'■lill'li', 



021 929 371 9 



HolHnger Corp. 
pH8.5 



